John Ruiz vs Leon Spinks

It has nothing to do with his "style" - which was, basically, cheating. My contention is, if they enforce the rules against Ruiz against a PRIME, Ali fight Leon Spinks, Leon wins a wide UD.

Even if Ruiz is allowed to cheat, I still give Leon a decent shot. Leon still had more legitimate boxing ability than Ruiz. There was a REASON Ruiz HAD to hold excessively and fake "low blows" to "win" fights.

 

More legitimate boxing ability, sure. If that's all that was needed to win in boxing, though - would Cotto have lost to Margarito?

OK, bad example due to the plaster factor - and Margarito's alleged cheating was far more intense than Ruiz's. Still, you get the point. :yep

Size and strength do matter - as much as do styles (and while Ruiz didn't have a popular one, he did have the style to completely suffocate Spinks).

 

Ruiz would back Leon up. Leon is one of those guys that needs to be going forward to be effective and I don't think he has the snap to prevent Ruiz from going forward. And there is a big advantage in physical strength for Ruiz once in tight and he'll muscle Leon around. Ugly fight and kind of like that Ledoux fight for Leon except Ruiz holds his hands up.

 

What Ruiz did was not a "style." It's cheating, pure and simple. And his connections with King allowed him to get away with it.

If Ruiz is allowed to hold excessively, he does have a shot at "winning" this fight. But it doesn't make it right - or legitimate.

 

Spinks was in the right place at the right time when he beat the greatest heavyweight who ever lived. His skills were very basic. Nonetheless,on his best night,I take him to outwork Ruiz.

 

:good:deal!